The Council

The Imperial Administration Building, the Senate. This singular chamber was situated on the very top floor of the edifice. Fitted with specialized one-way magic mirrors, it offered a panoramic view of Isdalia, allowing oversight of every corner of the capital. Compared to the Council Hall, which could seat over ten thousand people, the Senate was modest in size, holding only a single round table and several dozen chairs. Yet only the true upper echelon of the empire could take part here, formulating the realm's domestic policies and guiding principles. One could say the Senate was the true political heart of the Cinder Empire, wielding the power to decide its future destiny. Inside the chamber at this moment, the three dukes—Trump, Duoluo, and Mezrolash—sat in the front row. As the "Pillars of the Empire," their importance went without saying. Beside them sat Jinya, chieftain of the kobold tribes; Guillermo, Minister of the Department of Technology; Alger, Commander of the Redscale Garrison; Anthony, Chief Knight of the Dragon Oath Sanctuary; Misha, Dragon-Pact Sorcerer of the Tower of Karmic Flame... Anyone qualified to appear here held at least the rank of marquis—prominent figures who wielded vast influence within the empire. "Why was this Senate session convened so abruptly?" "Indeed. By routine, it shouldn't have been for another three days." "Could something major have happened?" "It couldn't be..." *Thump! Thump!* Trump tapped the edge of the table with his staff, producing a dull, heavy rap. The eyes of the assembly instantly converged upon him. "My lords—" He cleared his throat. "Over the past year, the empire has grown cautious and conservative. I know many among you have harbored grievances over this. Now... the time has come for change. His Majesty has awakened from his slumber, and that is why I summoned you here on such urgent notice." Instantly, the senators held their breath, turning their gazes in unison toward the empty, magnificent throne at the far end of the round table. Across their starkly varied faces flickered waves of excitement, anticipation, and tension. For the Chief Minister of the empire, Trump, had just delivered word: His Majesty had awakened, and he was about to grace the Senate with his presence. *Whoosh—* Under the eager, expectant eyes of all present, space before the throne rippled and twisted. Garbed in a deep-crimson imperial robe and crowned with a diadem, Cassius appeared before them, followed closely by Olivia, who held a sheaf of treaty documents in her arms. "Your Majesty!" Everyone in the Senate rose as one. Turning toward the throne, they lowered their heads and placed their right fists over their hearts in the formal salute of allegiance. Olivia hastily steered clear of the line of their bows, scurrying off to slip into her seat in the second row. Cassius took his place upon the throne with natural ease, pressing a hand downward in a dismissive gesture. "At ease. Be seated, everyone." Even now, he was not quite accustomed to human form, always feeling constrained; had the Senate chamber not been so confined, he would have preferred to assume his true red dragon body. Cassius rested his chin casually on his hand and said placidly, "It has been a long time. I trust those seated here know the empire's recent affairs far better than I do. For instance..." He paused deliberately. "...the abyssal demons." Then Cassius looked across the assembled senators, his intent clear: they were to voice their thoughts freely. *Bam!* Duoluo slammed the table and sprang to his feet, billowing white smoke from his mouth as he barked in righteous indignation, "Those vermin from the Abyss have gone entirely too far!" He turned toward Trump, pointing at the wound on the ogre's ear. "Your Majesty, look at what they have done to Lord Trump's ear! They dared to openly assassinate the empire's Prime Minister! This is a naked insult to our realm! And yet we took no reprisal—what an utter disgrace! Do you know what the empire's citizens are saying...?" "Those demons are far too arrogant!" "Indeed! Demonic attacks have broken out in the city under my governance as well. They infiltrate everywhere..." Instantly, righteous outrage flared throughout the Senate chamber. Many voiced their fury at the demons' depredations, echoing Duke Duoluo's sentiments. Trump, despite being singled out, showed not a trace of embarrassment; he merely sat there in leisurely calm. Duoluo appeared to be "caring" for Trump's injuries, but in truth he was denouncing Trump's mild, hesitant policies before Cassius, rallying support from the rest of the Senate. Misha frowned slightly, standing up to speak. "The demons are rampant indeed. I personally slew the glabrezu in Isdalia. However... counterattacking the Abyss is simply unrealistic. I have dealt with devils in the Elemental Plane of Fire and learned a great deal about the Abyss from them. By conventional lore alone, the Abyss spans six hundred and sixty-six layers, drowning in filth and blood, teeming with endless hordes of demons under the rule of disparate demon lords. Unless we can conquer Pazunia, mounting an invasion into the Abyss is nothing but a pointless drain of resources for our empire." Duoluo and the other military senators' faces darkened, but the scholars and those versed in planar cosmology voiced their agreement. After all, they knew very well that a "counterattack on the Abyss" was merely an unfeasible slogan. Trump gave an approving nod, tapping his staff against the floor as he said, "Our foe is the so-called 'Demon of Vengeance,' Jezralslak—a lord from ten thousand years ago whose current layer remains unknown. As matters stand, the enemy lurks in the shadows while we stand in the light. Acting rashly without intelligence would be utter folly. However..." The ogre archmage split his maw into a grin, a smile creasing his hideous face. "Now that His Majesty has awakened, we can cast aside our reservations and commit ourselves fully to dealing with these demons. His Majesty, in his foresight, divined the demons' invasion in advance through prophecy, and I have long been making preparations for it." Duoluo's expression grew even darker, while Trump turned, looking up at the Emperor upon the throne with eager eyes. *Snap!* Cassius did not speak, simply snapping his fingers. A massive magical projection materialized in midair, depicting rolling mountain ranges, with towering snow peaks rising a thousand meters high in the distance. "That's Mount Thierry!" "I've been there." Voices murmured among them. Mount Thierry was the most renowned peak in the Anstica Mountains, celebrated as the "Spine of the North." Suddenly, colossal black claws tore through the firmament, ripping open an abyssal rift hundreds of meters wide. Countless grotesque and monstrous demons surged forth like a tidal wave. Their hideous forms blotted out the very sky, casting chaotic, jagged shadows across the earth below. *Roaaar—* The projection cut off abruptly. Cassius's placid, unruffled voice echoed through the Senate. "According to the prophecy, the abyssal demons will launch a full-scale invasion of Anzeta. And the time of this invasion... is in one month." At that, Cassius casually picked up the dragon-headed scepter resting against the throne, rose to his feet, and held it level before him. The assembly stood up immediately in response. Every gaze—whether brimmed with anticipation, tension, or fervor—fixed upon the Emperor. Among them were half-dragons empowered by the Bloodline Boon, ogre archmages, hobgoblin warriors, Dragon Oath paladins, and kobolds who resembled upright, bipedal red dragons... They were the empire's pinnacle combatants, their blood rich with draconic potency rivaling the offspring of true dragons, almost every one of them possessing a Challenge Rating exceeding 10. Cassius surveyed the room, sweeping a scrutinizing gaze over everyone present, before the corner of his lips curled into a slight smile. In a deep, resonant voice, he declared: "My lords— A new war has begun." Led by Trump, the senators gathered around the round table once more placed their right fists over their hearts and proclaimed in unison: "For the empire!"